Gate



Nov. 18, 1958 E. H. FLATHMAN 2,860,428

GATE

Filed Aug. 30, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet l Elmer h. F/athman INVENTOR.

Nov. 18, 1958 E. H. FLATHMAN GATE Filed Aug. 30, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Elmer H. F/afhman INVENTOR.

BY MM 3% United States Patent GATE Elmer H. Flathman, Ruskin, Nebr-Application August 30, 1956, Serial No. 607,100

4 Claims. (Cl. 39-5) This invention relates to gate constructions andmore particularly to a gate that is adapted to be opened by forceapplied thereon by an approaching motor vehicle, as a truck, tractor orother standard and commercially available type of motor vehicle.

An object of the present invention is to provide a structurally improvedgate which is very easily operative, the gate including a closure thatis adapted to be swung about a generally horizontal pivot along thelower edge of the closure when a motor vehicle contacts the closure andapplies a force thereon, as by the front bumper of the vehicle, themotor vehicle continuing to ride over the closure as it is swung to anapproximately horizontal position and the closure automaticallyreturning to the upright and closed position after the motor vehicle isfree from the gate.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a gate that hasa closure capable of being operated by the force applied by means of amotor vehicle, the closure also being capable of a manual operation byrelease of pins, the manual operation being such as to swing the closureabout a hinge axis which is approximately perpendicular to thepreviously mentioned horizontal hinge axis along the lower edge of thegate closure.

A further object of the invention is to provide a gate constructionwhich operates smoothly, safely and positively, the gate functioning insuch manner that the operator of the motor' vehicle intending to gothrough the passage controlled by the gate need not stop his motorvehicle and need only continue in its course at a moderate speed, themotor vehicle depressing the gate and passing over it.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a gate constructed in accordance withthe invention;

Figure 2 is a top view of the structure in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure4;

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure1;

Figure 5 is a sectional view of one of the ground spindles and taken onthe line 5-5 of Figure l; and

Figure 6 is a sectional view of the structure in Figure 1, this viewshowing the gate in the down or open position and being operative by amotor vehicle.

In the accompanying drawings there is a gate 10 constructed inaccordance with the invention. This gate is arranged to control thepassage 12 in fence 14. The construction includes a pair of spaced posts16 and 18, respectively, which are anchored in the ground on oppositesides of driveway 20 which may be made of concrete, asphalt, or merelycompacted soil depending on the desires of the owner of the gateconstruction.

Patented Nov. 18, 1958 The gate comprises a closure 22 operable to openand close passage 12. The closure is rectangular having upper and lowermembers 24 and 26 made of pipe, tubing or other structural framingmembers and reinforcing bars 25 and 27 are connected thereto. Theclosure also has sides 28 and 30 which are welded or otherwise fixed attheir ends to the top and bottom members 24 and 26. Wire cloth panels 32and 34 are attached at the lower corners of the generally rectangularclosure 22, being secured to vertical supports 36 and 38 that are weldedor otherwise rigidly secured to the upper and lower members 24 and 26,and also to the sides 28 and 30. Above the panels 32 and 34 there arehorizontal bars 39, 40, 41. and 42. Metal plates 44 and 46 are bolted orotherwise fastened to iron bars 48 which extend between and are securedto braces 36 and 38. The sheet metal covering 44 and 48 is attached inplace by countersunk screws or other non-protruding means inasmuch asthe bumper of the motor vehicle or the equivalent part thereof isadapted to slide on either covering depending upon which way the gate isto be swung open, that is, forwardly or rearwardly in accordance withwhether it is the desire of the motorist to enter or leave the area thatis'enclosed by the fence 14. The bars 48 form the tread on which thetires of the motor vehicle are adapted to ride.

Identical means are provided on opposite sides of the gate in order toyieldingly oppose the movement of the gate from the up, passage closingposition to the down, passage opening position. For one side of theclosure there is a lever 50 pivoted between its ends on pivot pin 52,the latter being secured to post 16, as by spot welding or merelymounting in a sleeve 54. One end of the lever has a counterweight 56,spring or equivalent for the purpose of opposing pivotal movement oflever 50 in one direction and also for returning the lever to the restposition after it has been moved. The opposite end of lever 50 is fittedwith a channel block 58 to which link 60 is slidably pivoted, as bypivot pin 62 in slot 63 of block 58. Spring hanger 64 is bolted orotherwise fixed to the block 58, spring 66 being supported by hanger 64and by the extremity of link 60. Spring 66 and its identical counterpart69 function as shock absorbers and arresters when the closure isreturned from the open position.

Side 28 of closure 22 has a sleeve 70 welded or otherwise fixed to itand the sleeve protrudes laterally therefrom. The purpose of the sleeveis to accommodate pin 72, the latter constituting a part of the meansfor releasably connecting link 60 to the closure 22. The sleeve 70functions in addition, as a guide inasmuch as it has a passage 74extending transversely therethrough, the passage constraining the motionof push rod 78. The push rod passes through a guide 79 on side 28 tofurther aid in constraining the motion of the push rod 78. Spring 80 issecured to one end of the push rod and to an ear 82 welded or otherwiseattached to the side 28 of the closure 22. The opposite extremity of thepush rod supports a locking member, as roller 84 which coacts with thesaddle 86 to form a latch for the gate closure. Saddle 86 is at theupper end of a mounting arm 88 formed with slots through which fasteningbolts 89 pass in securing the saddle onto the link 60 in the proper,selected position along the length thereof. Accordingly, the latch tohold the gate in the upright position is carried by link 60 and side 28of closure 22.

On the opposite side of the gate closure 22 there is a lever 90 mountedfor pivotal movement on pin 91, the latter being secured to post 18.counterweight 92 is at one extremity of lever 90, while the other endhas a channel block 93 secured to it on which spring hanger 94 issecured. This spring hanger supports spring 69 for a reason describedpreviously, the spring not only being secured to the hanger but also tothe link 95 which is identical in function and construction to link 60.

Latch 96 is identically constructed to the latch on the opposite side ofthe closure 22, and the link is connected to the side 30 of closure 22by means of a pin 97 that is detachable.

The described structure on oppositesides of the closure 22 will permitthe closure to swing about a generally horizontal axis established'bythe lower member'26 of the closure. Ground boxes 100 and 102 areoperatively connected with the closure 22. "Each box (Figure has asleeve 104 that is anchored in the ground and in which there is aspindle 106. Bearing 108'iswelded or otherwise fixed to the upper endofspindle 106 and has the lower gate member 26 mounted for oscillationtherein. Accordingly, the closure 22 may rock forward or backward withthe generally horizontal hinge axis being established by the lowermember 26 of the closure 22.

In operation, a motor vehicle approaches and contacts the closure 22applying a horizontal forc'e'on it. This moves the closure to a downposition against the'yieiding opposition of the ccunterweights 56 and92'th'r'ough the action of the links and levers. The latches at thesides of the gates are automatically released bythe rollers thereofmoving off their saddles against'th'e yielding opposition of the springsoperatively connected with the latches.

After the motor vehicle has passed over the closure 22, it swings backto the erect, closed position by the pull of gravity acting on thecounterweights 56 and'92. This force is transmitted to a liftingmovement of'the closure through the levers and links with the shockbeing arrested by the pair of springs 66 and 69 as the closureautomatically latche in place. I

In order to open the gate manually 'it may be pushed by hand instead ofby motor vehicle. When it is desired to open the gate or remove the gatefor one reason or another, it is necessary only to remove the hinge pins72 and 97 and lift one end of the gate from connection with its groundbox. The spindle in the other ground box will act as a hinge pin so thatthe gate may be swung around the vertical axis. Alternatively, theclosure may beseparated from both of its ground boxes depending upon thedesires of the owner.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be restorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A gate construction comprising a pair of spaced posts, a closuremounted between said posts, a pair of generally vertical spaced spindlesbetween said posts, a bearing at the upper end of each spindle in whichthe lower part of said closure is pivotally mounted in order that theclosure may be swung to the open and closed positions about a generallyhorizontal axis, a lever pivoted to each post, a link slidably andpivotally connected to each lever, means releasably connecting saidlinks to the sides of said closure so that said closure may be swungabout a generally vertical axis upon separation of one of said spindles,a pair of latches operatively connected to said links and the sides ofsaid closure to hold said closure erect, and means connected to saidlevers for yieldingly retaining said levers in a position wherein saidclosure is erect.

2. A gate construction comprising a pair of posts that are spaced fromeach other, a closure having a lower member, means including bearingsdetachably supported at ground level for mountingsaid member for pivotalmovement about a generally horizontal axis whereby the closure may bemoved to an approximately horizontal down position when'open, means toreturn the closure to the upright, closed position, said return meanscomprising-for"each side of'said closure a lever pivoted to said posts,a link slidably and pivotally connected at the outer end of each lever,a counterweight at the opposite end of each lever, means pivotallyconnecting said links to the sides of said closure, latches operativelyconnected to said links and said closure to hold said closure releasablyin the upright position.

3. A gate construction comprising a pair of posts'that are spaced fromeach other, aclosure having a lower member, means includingbearingsdetachably supported at ground level for mounting said member forpivotal movement about a' generally horizontal axis whereby the closuremaybe moved to an approximately horizontal down'position when open,means to return'the closure to the upright, closed position, said returnmeans comprising for 'each side of said closure a lever pivoted to saidposts, a link slidably and pivotally connected at the outer end of eachlever, a counterweight at the opposite end of each lever, meanspivotally connecting'said links to the sides of said closure, latchesoperatively connected to said'link and said closure to hold said closurereleasably in the upright position, and shock-arresters connectedbetween said links and said levers.

4. A gate construction comprising a pair of posts that are spaced fromeach other, a closure having a lower member, means including bearingsdetachably supported at ground level for mounting said member forpivotal movement about a generally horizontal axis whereby the closuremay be moved to an approximately horizontal down position when open,-means to return the closure to the upright, closed position, said returnmeans comprising for each side of said closure a lever pivoted to 'saidposts, 'a link slidably and pivotally connected at the outer end of eachlever, a counterweight at the opposite end of each lever, meanspivotally connecting said links to the sides of said closure, latchesoperatively connected to said links and said closure to hold saidclosure releasably in the upright position, said means pivotallyconnecting said links to said closure including detachable pins, saidmeans connecting said lower member forpivotal movement also beingdetachable.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,624,169 Horner Apr. 12, 1927 1,650,814 Bailey Nov. 29, 1927 1,690,972Geohring Nov. 6, 1928 2,608,010 Anderson Aug. 26, 1952 2,758,399 Youleet a1. Aug. 14, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 100,747 Australia Apr. 7, 1937

